Shipping case unloading apparatus



Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS l3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 20, 1945 INVENTORS PflUL E. F/JCHER 0 BY PM, 1% M,

$: TWIFIRATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,656,060

SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet.2

Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL ,0

SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR5 PAUL E. FISCHER BY f f I m,

TA/El ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL ,06

SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 7315/1? ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1945 Mai INVENTORS PflUL Al /50761? 06m? ARIEL L TACF/ E ATTORNEYS -Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS l5 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 20, 1945 INVENTORS Pfll/l E. FISCHER 06m? .JQFJEZL THE! K ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945' 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS 1 I PflUL E. F/JCHf/P Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,656,060

- SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR5 P401. 5. F/JL'HEIE 5054/? ARFEZL T605! R ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2, 5 ,060

SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan.. 20, 1945 l3 Sheets-Sheet ll THE/R ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 6,060

SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan 20, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet l2 n ma:

INVENTOR 5 PAUL 5. H5 CHER 0 m? J/MELL Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. FISCHER 'ET AL ,0 0

SHIPPING CASE UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet l5 Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT 0F F-I'E'E HIPP NG ASE UNLOADING; npnnnn'rps PaulE. Fischer, Portland, and Edgar Ardell, Middletown, Conn., assignors, by mesne assign-i ments, toEmhart Manufacturing Company, a.

corporationnffiolaware 12 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for automatically unloading shipping cases such as are used for containers such as glass jars, bottles, and paper or metal cans or other articles. More specifiea lly the invention relates to apparatus for removing articles from shipping cases of'thetype that are closed by folded flap extensions of theside a d end Walls to or nt ps and also, usu l y, the bottoms of the shipping cases, such cases ordinarily be ng made .of'ee h ated board r fi e hea dhe epparatueihe an als e used ifor unloa in ases wh ch o ot have ps a d which may be made of other materials, such as w od, metal et du niesi which feed an o r D eduets are p eked n. ontaine s ne s the mad i. ass. or P per o metal ans ieh have lithe- .s aphee l bels wh ch. are easi y marred, it i customary for th mahiiie turer 9 h co t i ears to sup ly the ood pr du t manufac urer not only withthe c nta ners them e ve bu -el e i the shippin eases in wh ch t e h nd or the prodnet s to e sh pp d; hese. Sh p eas properl printed as de i n ted oy t 10n m ni iaeturer, arein ed with t e empty feed .een inere, the ot oms oi the s ip in eases bel e Permanently sealed, abut the ens oi the hippin eases having their flaps elded' o clo d pee tien but l it unsealed,- Consequeht y, th iced manufacture ree ves these ases f empty containers it is necessary to remove the pontainere f r the purpose of fill ng then; with he-P ticular food produc and clos ng and. labe in thern. Aiter this the .e ntai rsmaY be liena ked in. the. same ship ng ases,-

The empty ee tei ers are p eked in h shipnine cases with artit ons betw en the i dir dnh Leontainers, such as risse e sha made-9 perme ted heardhey a o have s p ratin pad usual y of the same materia betwe n. th tiers or la ers, if the sh ppi case .ee ta ne mor than o e i av r- It is therefo e als n eessary remove this partit on ng, that is both the a tit ons and the sepa ating pa s Mach nes a .neretoio e been prop sed e unl ad ng c n iners, .vsueh as lass bottles from sh ppin e se y g avity, but these mac ines are iieeeee n only whenthe bottles fit l osely enoug into the cells eehthe Partitions e thatthey willl a nut hen th ease is t rn up id down 3 v loose p eking s not h w ve n many ins ance provide .s fiicient protection for-15.116.09.11- taine ts, and the present .innention aims to provide vap ara iie hi h will a tem tiea unloa shippin cases in w i h the containers are packed snugly between the partitions.

mannerisms de Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic shipping case unloading apparatiqs for unloading cases containing two or rnore tjers or layers of containers.

A f urther purpose of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class described-which ill removethe partitioning separately from the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus whieh will remove as a unit the partitions and Separating pad 101: a single tier of articles.

A further pbjeet of the invention is to prgvide an apparatus which will automatically unload shipping cases having their top fiaps clpsedi but unsealed,

The invention will be described in cgnnegtion with the embodiment shown, by ay ,of-ex ainple, in the accompanying drawingsgin whichthe ping casesor cartons t9 be unloaded are provided with flaps for closing the tops thereoffthe se cases being received in the apparatus with such flaps closed but unsealed; the cases" eontaining two layers of large-mouth glass jars sucheas are used for baby food and other food fodi cts. Also in the embodiment of the inventi'pn illustrated the apparatus is provided with three lifiiing heads at three unloading stations. Thefirst of hee l t hem the ipni ej esef he n ie ofjars. fIEhe second; lifts ol t the partitions for the top tier of:jars and the separating pad hetwee he re- T e third hits out ste or bottom tier of jars. It will be understood, however, that additional -unioad ing s tations may be included should it be desired to-unload shipping cases containing rnore than two piers.

Als i t embodim n he nve ti n n eeleee he li t ng heads er the ja s re-P ideel wi h e ih ne d v es i h ent e ne mon hs or t e ja s ri th iars. f ni hi inside, It willbe understood, however; that ontside gripping devices may be used if desired-if, for exainp'le a shippingcase should contain-bott es ins ad. of ie I will he ur he und s oo that n t le t pe efefihh ne eer e or lifting device may be provided; gnthe s e lifting needs de ending upe the type, or e" or .eeh aiiier in e removed ite sh nnin eas and whe her heeentai er ate, empt iorinllejd, li ht in eigh or heavy; ne 9 ena nle, a mesh ni ei ehnne soi e ther the n ide or setsioi pe, pneuina ie e ne 9r n ng de ices o vices, the lasthein use i h Q d ne shippin ease iiee with. n iafieei or W thi Wh h-hav inet l sens,

Referring now to the accompanying drawings:

. to the central portion of Fig. 12 7 smaller scale and illustrating a modified form of nism of Fig. '18.

I 'vention is a shipping carton made of layers of large-mouthglass jars. "empty and have no covers on them. They are to be filled by the user of the unloading appa- Fig. 4 is a side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale showing the left-hand end of the apparatus including the third unloading station. The

cover is removed from the casing which houses I the intermittent driving mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a vertical central longitudinal section of the central part of the apparatus showing the first and second unloading stations;

Fig. 6 is a similar section of the upper portion of the apparatus immediately to the right of that shown in Fig. 5 and drawn to a still larger scale to illustrate the flap opening mechanism. This section is taken on broken line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6, drawn to the same scale;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line B- 8 of Fig. 4 but drawn to a larger scale to further illustrate the intermittent driving mechanism and its connected parts;

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 1 looking towards the right adjacent the third unloading station and drawn L to approximately the same scale as Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 taken on the line l0l0 of Fig. 1 looking in the same direction adjacent the second unloading station;

Fig. 11 is a similar view taken on line H-H of Fig. 1, also looking in the same direction and adjacent the first unloading station;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section of a portion of Fig. 11 but showing cerg tain parts in a different position and drawn to a greatly enlarged scale;

Fig. 13 is a view of Fig. 10 but with these ferent position; 7

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the parts shown in certain parts shown in parts shifted to a dif- Fig.13;

Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical section similar but drawn to a lifting head;

Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate another form of lifting head, Fig. 16 being somewhat similar to Fig. 15, and Fig. 1''! being a vertical section taken on line Il-l1 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 16"of still another modification of the lifting head;

Figs. 19, and 21 show details of the mecha- Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken on line l9-l9 of Fig. 18. Fig. 20 shows the details of the mounting of one of the lifting head magnets of Fig. 18, Fig. 21 being a section taken on line 2 |-2l of Fig. 20; and

Figs. 22 to 27, inclusive, show the intermittent driving mechanism in different positions I to illustrate its operation.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

which is unloaded by the particular apparatus to be described as one embodiment of the incorrugated board or fiber board, containing two tiers or These jars are ratus with, for example, a food product such as baby food. Each tier contains twenty-four jars arranged in four rows of six jars each. Corrugated board partitioning is used to separate the individual jars of each layer and also to separate the two layers. Thus crisscross partitions I separate the individual jars of the upper tier and similar crisscross partitions 2 those of the lower tier, while the two tiers are separated by a fiat pad 3.

The cases filled with these empty jars and having their top flaps closed but unsealed enter the right-hand end of the unloading apparatus as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 by means of an automatic timer indicated generally by reference numeral 4, which is supported upon the two longitudinal side frame members 5 and 6 of the apparatus. These frame members terminate at the left-hand end of the apparatus in housings I and 8 which contain gearing and intermittent drive mechanism to be described. Frame members 5 and 6 also support centrally between them a case guideway indicated generally by reference numeral 9 (Fig. 2) and extending from the timer 4 entirely through the apparatus.

Guideway 9 comprises a short roller bed l0 adjacent timer 4 and a horizontal metal plate H which extends from roller bed H} to the delivery conveyor 12 for empty cases at the lefthand end of the apparatus. It also includes side guides [3' for confining the cases to a definite path as they passthrough the apparatus. The cases are moved along this guideway by means of flight bars l4 carried by. a pair of intermittently operated flight chains I5. These flight chains are supported at their right-hand ends by means of idler sprockets l6 and at their left-hand ends by idler sprockets lla which direct the chains downward into engagement with driving sprockets l1 and thence around idler sprocket l8 and beneath idler sprockets I!) to the right-hand end of the machine.

Plate H on which the cases slide is supported on brackets 20 (Figs. 1 and 10) which are fixed in appropriately spaced relation along side frame members 5 and 6. Flight chains l5 are supported between idler sprockets l6 and H in horizontal guide channels 2! in which the chains travel throughout the length of the machine. These guide channels are also supported on brackets 20.

The cases entering the machine at the righthand end are fed between successive flight bars 14 by the timer 4. The intermittently operated flight chains 15 carry the cases forward at each step a distance equal to the distance between adjacent flight bars. During the first step by step movement of a case by one of the flight bars M the upper portion of the case is brought into engagement with mechanism for opening the outer or side flaps to outwardly extending horizontal position, which mechanism isindicated generally by numeral 22 (Figs. 6, '7, and 1).

At the end of this first step movement the case arrives at an inner flap opening station, indicated generally by numeral 23. While the case remains at rest at this station the. inner or end 2 flaps are opened to a similar outward horizontal position by mechanism to be described.

The next advance of flight chains l5 carries the case to the first unloading station, indicated generally by numeral 24, and while the case remains at rest at this station the upper tier of jars is lifted out of the open top of the case. The succeeding movement of chains 15 carries the cross partitions 2- remaining in the case. On the following step movement of 'the night chains the case with the lower partitions 2 mil: is discharged from the apparatus onto'conveyo-r I 2.

The jars constituting both the upper and'lower container tiers are discharged from the apparatus onto a conveyor 21 bywhich they may be carried to a filling apparatus for the containers. The partitioning which was removed from thecase at the second unloading station 25 is discharged from the apparatus in a guideway or. conveyor in the form of a laterally projecting chute 28. This partitioning may be immediately reinserted by the operator of the apparatus in an empty case on conveyor I2. If desired, however,the partitioning may be discharged from chute 28 onto a suitable conveyor to deliver it at the case packing machine where the cases-are repacked with the jars after they have been filled withthe product which they are to contain.

At the first unloading station 24 there is a vertically reciprocable lifting head 29 which is equipped with twenty-four jar lifting devices 3!, one for each jar of the upper tier. At the second unloading station there is a vertically reciprocable lifting head 30 which has four suction cups .32 by which the partitioning is lifted out of the case.

The third unloading station 26 has a reciprocable.

lifting head 33 which carries jar lifting devices 3 which are not unlike the lifting devicestiand by which the'jars of the lower tier. are lifted out of the case.

Mechanism is provided (to be described) for reciprocating the three lifting heads 29, 3t and 32 simultaneously. After the first few advances of the case flight chains ['5 there will bea shipping case at each of the three unloading stations and thereafter upon each reciprocation of the three lifting heads and each advance of flight chains I! a case will be completely unloaded.

To receive the jars after they have been lifted by the lifting heads 29 and 33 and deliver them to the conveyor 27, a second guideway for these.

jars or containers is provided, indicatedgenerally by numeral 35. Guidewa-y 35 comprises threesec- 'tions' of container supporting rails, indicated by numerals 38, 31a, 31b, and 38 (Figs. 3, 5, and

' '1), placed end to end to-extend from the first unloading station 24 to the container delivery conveyor 21.

Each of these guideway sections consists of "four parallel rails, one for each of the four rows of jars in a tier. Container guideway 35 also com prises three sections of container guide bars to keep the jars in upright position on their supporting rails. The first section of these guide bars is indicated by numeral 39 in Fig. 5; the second section by numerals 45a and 40b; and the third section by numeral 4-! (see also Figs. 3 and 1) The central section also is provided with lower guide bars 42a and 422) shown only in Figs. 10 and 13.

The first section of guideway 35 (rails 36 and guide bars 39) is at the first unloading station 24. The second section, consisting of rails 31a and 31b, upper guide bars 40a and 49b, and lower guide bars 42a and 42b, is-at the second unloading station 25. The third section,.comprisingrails 38 and guide bars 4|, is at thecthird unloading '6 station 26. The'guide bars 39 and M for the first and third unloading stations are stationary and are supported by arched cross members 39" and 4| (Figs. 11 and 9). The sections of'railsS-G and 38 at their respective unloading stations :are arranged to be laterally shiftable, as willbe described in detail, and are shifted into vertical alignment with their corresponding stationary guides 39 and 4| to allow the lifting devices 3| and'34'of lifting heads 29 and 33 respectively-to descend between them into the casesto'liftout the jars.

The section of rails 31a and 31b, guides 4'0a 'an-d Hlb-and'Z-a and 421) at the second unloading station 25-are arranged to be laterally shiftableyin groups (designated by the letters a and-"17) to separate from each other as shown in Fig. 13to allow the suction lifting head 33 to descend and lift out the crisscross partitions l and-separator pad 3. This is necessary because in the embodiment of the invention illustrated the partitioning chute 28 is disposed above the container guideway 35. In order for lifting head at to deposit-the partitioning on chute 28 the chute itself is. also made in two separable sections (Fig. 13) its upper portion shifting laterally with rail S'Iaa-nd guides 49a and 42a, and the lower section of the'chute shifting with rails 31b and guides Mb and 42b.

The partitioning 3, when deposited in chute 28 by the suction lifting head at, is removed'from the apparatus by gravity on the inclined chute. It is necessary, however, toprepelthe containers deposited on rail sections 35 and 38 of container guideway 35 at the first and third unloading stations 2 and 26 to the container conveyor 21 at the left-hand end of the apparatus. Movement of these containers must take place at the completion of each upward stroke of the lifting heads and it is made to take place simultaneously'with the advance of the cases by flight chains 15.

Such movement of the containers in their supporting rails is accomplished by means of container flight chains 43 which carry between them 3 pairs of spaced flight bars M, Ma. Bars move the containers at the first unloading station 2 and the bars Mathose at the third unloading station 26. While the cases are advancing from one station to the next, both groups of containers which 'havebeen deposited in the container guideway 35 at the unloading stations 2 and 26 are moved clear of rail section 38 of this guidewav and delivered to conveyor 2?. Accordingly, flight chains 43 and [5 move simultaneously but flight chains 53 move faster.

Flight chains as are supported by pairs of idler sprockets 5 at the right-hand end of container guideway 35 and by similar sprockets dB at the left-hand end. During their movement along the container guideway 35 they are maintained in a straight horizontal path by means of stationary guide channels (Figs. 10 and 13) which are similar to the guide channels 21 'for case flight chains i5. Container flight bars 44 are preferably provided with container engaging pads, one in line with each of the four rows of jars which are propelled forward by the flight bars. As the fiightchainsdt pass around sprockets :56 they are carried upwardly over drivle sprockets :59 (Fig. l) which are mounted on an upper framework 5%} which also aids the main frame of the apparatus in supporting the mechanism of lifting heads 2t, 3t and 3!. Flight chains 4-3 then move toward the right-hand. end. of the machine and after passing around idler sprockets the driving gear housings and 8 (Fig. 8).

. gripping members it and i5. fixed in pairs in spaced relation on parallel shafts I 16 and Ti, respectively, which lifting head 29. shafts corresponding to devices, and six pairs of gripping members '14, 15

" Fingers M and 15 are tacrsaoco f 5|, also mounted on frame 50, theyreturn to the Lifting head 29 (Fig. 11) for the first unloading station is mounted on the underside of a carriage 52, the ends of which are arranged to slide on vertical posts 53, one on each side of the apparatus and forming a part of the machine frame. Connecting rods 54 are pivoted to :the carriage at their upper ends and operated from their lower ends by crank disks 55 which are keyed to the opposite ends of a cross shaft 55, this shaft rotating in journals supported by the two longitudinal frame members 5 and 6. Rotation of shaft 55 by a sprocket 51 fixed thereto and chain 58 (Fig. 2) produces the reciprocating movement of carriage 52 and lifting head 29.

Referring now to Fig. 13, lifting head 35 for the second unloading station is attached by means of a spacing member 55 to a second vertically movable carriage 58 (Figs. 5, l and 13). Carriage 6!] slides on vertical posts and is operated by connecting rods 52 from crank disks E3. Crank disks 63 are keyed to a cross shaft 64 mounted parallel with cross shaft 56. Shaft 84 is driven by a sprocket 65 keyed thereto and a chain 65 trained around it (Fig. 2). Shafts 56 and 64 are interconnected by chain 58 which .passes around a driving sprocket 5'! adjacent sprocket 65 on shaft 64.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 9, lifting head 33 for the third unloading station is mounted beneath a vertically reciprocating carriage E3 which slides on vertical posts 69 and is connected by rods with its operating crank disks H. Crank disks H are keyed to the outer ends of a third cross shaft '52 which is also parallel with shafts 56 and 64.

Chain 66 which drives cross shaft 64 and through it cross shaft 56, is operated by a driving sprocket l3 keyed to shaft i2. Shaft 12 is driven intermittently by the intermittent drive mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 8 to be later described.

It will be understood that the crank throw of crank disc '11 is greater than that of crank disc 55 since the cases keep the same level throughout the apparatus and the extent of vertical travel of gripper head 33 is greater than that of gripper head 29 in order to engage the lower tier of containers.

The lifting devices 3! which are carried by lifting head 29 at the first unloading station are shown in detail in Figs, 11 and 12. Each of these lifting devices comprises a pair of internal ihese members are are journaled on There are four pairs of such the four rows of lifting on each shaft. Gripping members l4, l5 terminate at their lower ends in outwardly projecting lugs 18 adapted to engage the shoulder of a jar just below its mouth, as shown in Fig. 12. biased away from each other by means of helical springs '59.

In order to actuate fingers i4, i5 simultaneously so as to release or pick up the containers, each shaft H has an actuating arm Bil extending above it and the pairs of shafts it, I? are interconnected by intermeshing pinions 8!.

To rock the actuating arms 30 to the left or right an operat- Shaft 12, however, is journaled in ing bar 82 is arranged to slide laterally in'guides 83 on carriage 52, this member being provided thereto and projecting to the left into engagement with a short arm 85, being biased toward the left by means of a coil spring 81 which holds rod 85 in engagement with this arm.

Arm 86 is arranged to move up and down with carriage 52, the rocking movement of shaft 88 on which it is slidably mounted being communicated to arm 86 by means of a slidable key 89 so as not to interfere with the reciprocating movement of carriage 52. Rock shaft 88 is journaled in the frame of the apparatus and is actuated by means of a continuously rotating face cam 90 which engages a roller 9| on the left-hand end of a horizontal arm 92 (Figs. 2 and 5) mounted at the lower end of rock shaft 88. A helical spring 93 (Fig. 4) holds roller 9| in engagement with the cam. 7

Cam 99 is fixed on'a cross shaft 9d and operates to cause the engagement of lifting devices 31 with the containers when the lifting head 29 is at the bottom of its stroke, and the actuation of lifting devices 31 to release the containers after the lifting head has reached the top of its stroke. Cross shaft 94 rotates continuously and is driven by means of a chain 95 passing around sprocket 96 located on the rear end of the shaft 94 (Fig. 2). In Fig. 12 the lifting devices have just been actuated to engage the upper tier of containers and in Fig. 11 these jars have been lifted out of the shipping case and have been released by lifting devices 3! onto rails 36.

During the upward movement of the jars they pass between rails 36 as may be understood from Fig. 12, and should the partitions i, or the case, adhere to the jars, these will be'stripped from the jars by the lower edges of rails 38. As previously mentioned rails 35 are shifted laterally into vertical alignment with the stationary guides 39 above them to allow the lifting devices to move between them, and after the tier of containers has been raised to the top of the stroke of carriage 52 rails 36 are again shifted back to their original position so as to support the containers when they are released.

Referring now to Fig. 9 and lifting head 33 for the third unloading station 26, the individual container lifting devices 34 are substantially riage 68 than are the lifting devices 3| on carriage 52 because devices 34 have to reach down and engage the containers of the lower tier in the shipping case. Consequently the operating levers or extensions 86a are somewhat longer.

The operating mechanism for shifting these levers 86a to cause the gripping devices 34 to enbeing indicated by gage and release the containers is identical with that described above in connection with the operation of lifting devices 3!, the various parts the same reference numerals with the subscript a. Cam 90a, however, is

' keyed to the inner end of a short operating shaft 91 (Fig. 2) which is journaled in suitable bearing "brackets secured to side frame member 6. On the outer end of this shaft a double sprocket 98 is keyed, around which is carried a driving chain 99 by which shaft 91 is rotated from a shaft I00 9 which may .be considered as the. main operating or drive shaft of the entire apparatus. Double sprocket 98 also carries chain 95 which drives shaft 94.

The mechanismof liftin head 30 for the second unloading station 25 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 5, 1i) and 13. This lifting head carries the suction cups 32 which at the lower end of the stroke of reciprocating carriage 60 engage the separator pad 3 (Fig. 13) and lift this pad out of the shipping case together with the upper crisscross partitions .I, which rest on top of the pad. At the top of the stroke of carriage 60 the partitioning is released from the lifting head and drops onto the inclined chute 28. Lifting head 30 is provided with a supporting frame plate IElI which is secured to the lower end of spacing member 59, and four suction cups 32 are mounted at the bottoms of tubular supports I02 which are fixed to the under side of supporting plate IOI.

The vertical reciprocation of carriage 60 by crank disks 63 moves lifting head 30 up and down. At the bottom of its stroke it is necessary to connect the tubular supports I92 with a suction pump in order to cause the separator pad 3 to adhere to suction cups 32 and to maintain thi connection until the lifting head has reached the top of its stroke. For this purpose each of the four tubular supports I02 is connected by piping I03 mounted on supporting plate iiii to a flexible tubing I04, the upper end of which is connected through a valve I05 to a line I06 leading from a suitable suction pump (not shown).

Valve I05 has an actuating lever I61 which is spring biased to release position in which the flexible connection I64 i cut off" from suction pipe I06 and placed in communication with the atmosphere. On account of the time lag involved in equalizing the pressure within suction cups 32 with that of the atmosphere at the instant actuating lever I0? is moved to the release position, it is necessary to provide mechanical stripping means for effecting a prompt removal of the partitioning I, 3, from the suction cups 32 in order that it may be deposited quickly on the discharge chute 28.

Such stripping mechanism includes a stripping plate I08 which is mounted immediately below supporting plate IGI and adapted to be shifted downwardly with respect thereto at the proper time thereby engaging the upper edges of crisscross partitions I and forcing the partitioning loose from suction cups 32. Stripping plate I98 is supported by two posts I09 secured to the upper surface thereof and extending through guides H0 in which these posts slide. Posts I00 are connected together at their upper ends by means of a yoke III and between this yoke and the upper ends of guides H0 there are two coil springs I12 which support the stripping mechanism in its normal or upward position.

These parts of the stripping mechanism reciprocate with lifting head 36 and the stripping mechanism is actuated by means of a vertically shiftable rod I13 mounted on the stationary frame of the apparatus. Yoke III moves into juxtaposition with the lower end of this rod when lifting head 36 reaches the upper end of its stroke and at this instant rod H3 is shifted downwardly to engage yoke III and actuate the stripping mechanism.

Actuating rod H3 is mounted with its lower end sliding in a stationary guide I I4 at the lower part of bracket which is bolted to a cross member of upper framework 50. At its upper end rod .I I3 is guidedin anaperture in a U-shapedbracket I'I5 (Fig. 10)- also mounted on .frame-' Figs. 10 and 5, which includestwo lower toggle levers H6 and two upper toggle levers Ill. The lower toggle levers are pivoted to a collar .3

which is pinned on rod I I3, this red being biased upwardly by means of a helical spring I I9 beheath this collar. The upper toggle levers H1 arcpivoted at their upper ends to the U-shaped bracket I-IE. joined together by pins I which carry rollers i2'l (Fig. 5-), these rollers cooperating with cams I22. Cams I22 are keyed to a. cross shaft 123. suitably journaled in upper frameworkw-50and continuouslyrotated by means of a sprocket I24 anda chain I25 which is. trained over a sprocket I26 (Fig. 2) at the end of main operating shaftl00.

Actuating lever I01 of vacuum valve I05 .is operated by means of a horizontal rod I26 (Fig. 5) at the left-hand end of which thereis a bifurcated yoke I2! (Fig. 5) connected to the pins I20 which support rollers I2I. A helical spring I28 serves to bias lever I01 toward release position and rollers I2I into engagement with cams I22. At each reciprocation ofthe-lifting heads 29 and 33 for the first and third unloading stations 24' and 26,v container supporting rail sections 36v and 33 have to be shifted into alignment with stationary container guides '39 and 4|. Also,- during each stroke of lifting head30 for the second un-- loading station 25, chute 26, containerguides 40a and 46b, 42a and 42b, and container supporting rails 37a and 31b have-to be moved out of the path of the lifting head and then returned :to' their original positions. The mechanismfor' accomplishing this will now-be described.

Referring to Fig. 3, along each sideof the apparatus there extend two parallel rock shafts I29- and I36. Rail sections 36 and 38 are shifted'by rock shaft I29 and this shaft is actuated by means of a cam I,3.I fixed to continuously rotating shaft 94 (Figs. 11 and .1). 'I'hiscam engages a roller I-32 at the lower end of a-vertical- 1y movable rod I33 which is biaseddownwardly by a helical spring I34 and which is connected atits upper end toa short arm I35 fixed to rock shaft I29. Rail sections36 (Figs- 11 and 3) are mounted on a pair of horizontal cross bars I36.-

These bars are supported for lateral shifting movement, being pivoted at theiroppositeends to two pairs .of short arms I37 and I38. Arms I31 are keyed to their actuating shaft I29 (Fig. 11), while arms I38 are loosely mounted on shaft I30 which serves merely as a support for them. Hence, bars- I36 and container rails 36 are shifted laterally-by the rocking of shaft:l29 by cam I 3I. When cam roller I32 is on the circular part of the cam, rails 36 are in the position'shown in Fig. 11 midway'between. pairs of container guides 39 andready to receive a tier of containers from thelifting head 29 when it is at the upper end of itsxstroke. However, whenroller I32 is'raised-by the high part of cam I3I rails 36 are shifted to the'right into vertical alignment with guides 39 (Fig. 12) and the parts are thus in position for the descent of lifting head 29 carrying lifting devices 3| downwardly between both the guides 39 and the rails 36 to lift the first or upper-tier of cans out of a shipping case.

In like manner rail sections 38 for the third unloading station 26are mounted in a pairof The two pairs of toggle leversare:

cross bars I39 which are carried at their righthand ends (Fig. 9) on short arms I40 also keyed to actuating shaft I29, and at their left-hand ends on short arms I4I mounted loosely on shaft I30. Accordingly, rail sections 38 are shifted simultaneously with rail sections 36 and move back and forth between the full line position and the dotted line position of Fig. 9. It will be understood that cam I3I shifts both rail sections 36 and 38 in timed relation to the vertical reciprocation of the two lifting heads 29 and 33.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 10 and 13, which illustrate the shifting of the parts (rails and guides, and sections of the partitioning chute) at the second unloading station two pairs of laterally shiftable elongated vertical frames I42 and I43 are provided. One frame of each of these pairs is located at each end of the rail and guide sections for this unloading station. These two pairs of frames are shifted simultaneously in opposite directions to separate the two groups of rails and guides and the upper and lower portions of guide chute 28. One group consists of supporting rails 31a, lower guides 42a and upper guides a which are fixed adjacent their opposite ends to frames I42. The other group comprises rails 31b, guides 42b, and guides 40b which are similarly supported on frames I43.

In order to mount these two pairs of frames I42 and I43 for such simultaneous shifting in opposite directions, frames I43 are supported at their ends by a pair of upwardly directed arms I44 and I45, being pivotally connected to the upper ends of these arms. Arms I44 are both keyed to shaft I29 and arms I45 are both loosely mounted on shaft I30.

Frames I42 are similarly supported on two pairs of arms I46 and I41 which are of the same length as arms I44 and I45. Arms I46 are both keyed to the longitudinal shaft on the opposite side of the machine, that is, shaft I30. Arms I41 are loosely mounted on shaft I29.

The two pairs of frames I42 and I43 are shifted simultaneously in opposite directions by the simultaneous rocking of shafts I29 and I30 in opposite directions and to the same extent. The rocking of shaft I29 by means of cam I3I has been previously described. Shaft I29 may be rocked by a similar cam (not shown) but in the embodiment illustrated it is actuated by means of a link I48 which is pivoted at one end to a short upwardly extending arm I49 keyed to shaft I29 and at its opposite end to a downwardly extending arm I50 which is keyed to shaft I30.

The upper section of chute 28 is supported on two longitudinally extending bars I51 (Figs. 5 and 10) which are supported at their ends by frames I42. The lower part of chute 28 is supported on two longitudinally extending bars I52 which are fixed at their ends to the second frame I43. Hence when these two frames are shifted in one direction the two chute sections are separated from each other as shown in Fig. 13, and when shifted in the opposite direction the chute sections are brought together again as shown in Fig. 10 ready to receive the partitioning from lifting head 30.

Returning now to the mechanism for handling the cases, as they are brought to the first unloading station 24 the automatic timing mechanism 4 (Fig. 1) receives the cases from a supply conveyor (not shown) along which they are fed to the timer. The front of each case arriving at a stop roller I53 the case is momentarily arrested and, at the proper instant to time it with one of 12 the flight bars I4, is lifted over stop roller I53 by the tilting of a section I54 of belt conveyor. This belt conveyor section is pivoted at I55 to the machine frame and when the left-hand end is raised 1 serves to propel the case over the stop roller.

The belt of conveyor I54 is operated by means of a chain I56 which is trained around a large sprocket on the shaft of sprocket I6 which supports the right-hand end of flight bars I5. Timing mechanism 4 is operated by a chain I51 driven from the same shaft. The details of the construction and operation of this timing mechanism are set forth in United States Patent No.

2,324,401, granted July 13, 1943, to Wallace D. Kimball, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

In order to open the flaps at the top of the cartons so that the lifting heads at the unloading stations 24, 25 and 26 may enter the cases to remove the contents, the mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 1 is provided. As each case is received in front of a fiight bar I4 from the timer 4 it is brought past the outer fiap opening devices 22. First it is pushed forward between a pair of yieldingly mounted rollers I58 which squeeze the sides of the case and cause the outer or side flaps to open slightly as shown in these two Figures 6 and 7. Rollers I58 are mounted respectively on two lever arms I59 carried on vertical pivots I60 which are fixed to the frame of the machine near the tops of the cases so as to support rollers I58 approximately in line with said guides I3. Lever arms I59 are provided with coil springs ISI which urge the rollers I58 inwardly.

The initial opening of the outer flaps by the squeezing pressure of rollers I56 is sufficient to permit the ends of two stationary unfolding devices I62 in the form of warped surfaces to enter beneath them. As the case is pushed'forward these warped surfaces unfold the outer flaps, turning them each upwardly through an angle of 180 until they occupy the outwardly extended horizontal positions shown at the left of Fig. '7. These flaps are maintained in their positions throughout the travel of the cases past the three unloading stations by means of two horizontal rods I63 which extend from the left-hand end of the unfolding devices I62.

The inner flap opening mechanism which operates while the case is at the opening station indicated by numeral 23 comprises a pair of thin blade-like arcuate members I64 and I65 which are arranged to rotate in opposite directions on two parallel shafts I65 and I61. As shown in Fig. '7 these rotary members each operate between the containers of two adjacent rows and are thin enough to pass between the containers. The end of rotary blade I64 engages the under side of the forward end of the front inner flap and raises it from the full line position to approximately the dotted line position 558. Similarly, rotary blade I65 opens the rear inner fiap to approximately the dotted line position I69.

The forward inner flap has been lifted high enough to permit the entrance beneath it of a second arcuate member I19 which is fixed at its trailing end to a radial arm Ill secured to a cross shaft I12 which is supported in suitable brackets substantially vertically above the front wall of the case as shown in Figs. 6 and 1. The action of arcuate member I16 is to swing the forward inner flap about its hinge to approximately the posi tion shown in Fig. 6, where its forward edge is low enough to pass underneath container sup porting rails 36.

(Fig..2)

The rear inneriflapifilis swung. about its hinge toa similar position merely by engagement with the ends of rails 36. These inner flaps arex'maintained in'their positions by rails 38 at first unloading stationZ l, by rails-37a and 37b at the second unloading station 25, and by rails 38 at the third unloading station26.

Shafts Itditl' and I'i'2 of the flap opening devices I64, Iiidand Ila-are rotated continuously butin timed relation to'the flight bars E5. The drive is'by means'of an endless chain H3 (Figs. 1. andl3) from a sprocket on shaft 94 too. sprocket on shaftrI'IZ. A second-chain I'M from a second sprocket on shaft I72 is trained around a sprocket onshaft H56. Shaft IS'Iis driven by. gearing. from shaft I66.

Themain driving mechanism for operating'the variousparts of the apparatus, together with the mechanism forv simultaneously reciprocating the three lifting heads 29, 3fi-and 33 will now be described. The apparatus is driven'byan electric motor'ihl which is mounted adjacent the front end of housings l and 8 (Figs. 1, 4 and 8). A chain which is trained over a sprocket on the motor shaft drives a sprocket I'Ifi which is keyed to a short sleeve I'I'I (Fig. 8) which is mounted for rotation on shaftEZ within housing 8. 'On the inner end of sleeve Ill there is keyed'a pinion I18 which'drives a large-gear I79 keyed to the main'operating'shaft I99: of the apparatus. This shaft rotates continuously.

The intermittent drive mechanism for perating the case flight chain I and container-flight chain 43, and also for'operatingthe lifting heads 29, '39 and 33,-is locatedwi-thin housing 7. This mechanism comprises amodified Geneva gear mechanism which will be' describedin detail later. For present purposes this mechanism comprises a continuously rotating driver H89 which iskeyed at-the end of main shaft I E39 and which actuates the intermittently rotated driven members IBI and I82. Driven member I8I is keyed on the end of a shaft I83 which is parallel to shaft we and disposed in the rear-of shaft I99. Driven.member I82 is keyed to shaft 72 which is similarly disposed in frontof shaft I08.

The arrangement of the intermittent drive mechanism is such that driven member IBI makes one complete revolution while driver I 89 turnsthrough an angle of 135, member itlthen being held stationary during-the remainder of each complete rotationof driver E39. The operation of driven member IEZis similar. These two members being disposed on opposite sides of driver I89 the rotation of .eachtakes place while the other .is held. stationary.

Driven member ISI operates the case flight chain I5 and the container flight chain .43 through the connectionsabout to be described, and 'also,,through member I82, operates the three lifting heads 29, 3t and 33, lifting header? being reciprocateddirectly by shaft '52 and lifting heads and 33 being operated throughconnections heretofore-described, rincluding chains. 85 and 5% Hence, whilethe. flight chains are moving'the casesand containers'along guideways 3 and-35 respectively, the lifting heads remain eta-- tionary and, vice versa, thechains remain stationary while the lifting'headsare removingthe containers and partitioning from the cases at the three unloading stations .213, 2.5 and 2E.

Returning to-the driving connections for flight chains I5 and 43, driven member I8I of the intermittent driving mechanism actuates shaft 183 and on the rear end .of this rshaft there is a sprocket 184 around :which is trained? an almost vertical endless chain I (Figs. 1 and4) which drives a shaft I86 mounted :for rotation in brackets secured'to the superstructure-frame 50. This shaft is 'operativelyconnected Icy-gearing to rotate .an'adjacent shaft I81 on which -driving sprocket 49' of container flight chain is keyed.

:While the container: fiightchain 431s operated directly .from shaft 183 as just described, :the

case iflightzchain .I5'is operated fromxtl'lis shaftand operation of the modified Geneva gear mechanism which provides the intermittent motion of the-intermittent drive mechanism. iThe two: drivenmembers I8 I and I82 are constructed exactly alike and .are each' actuated by the same. driving parts onthe driver I80. These driving parts include'a gear segment I94 and two'driving pins, an accelerating pin I 95 :at the leading ;end of gear segment I94 and a deceleratingpirnI96 at the-trailing end of segment I94.

The teeth of gear segment I194 :are mounted on the periphery of a disk or wheel-like :hody I97. The pins I95 andl 96 are: mounted between two arcuate plates I98 which are boltedto the opposite-sides of body member I 9'! (Fig.8) :and' extend arcuately a somewhat greater distance than 'gear segment I94. Theendssof thesei lates I98" terminate in outwardlyprojecting. lugs'which carryrespectivelytheztwo pins [95 and :I96rbetween-them. The'center lines of these pins are disposed substantially at the pitch line ofxthe gear'teeth I94 '(Fig. 27) andthe'pins tare supported 'by plates I98 centrally of two recesses I99 and zoflin the' body member I 91.

Thedriven members I 8Iand .182 eachxha-veia body portion 2 9 l 1 containing. a series of gear teeth 2'02. Bolted to thefaces'of pinion body 2M are heavy plates 293 having portions'which "extend outwardly beyond teeth 202 and in which :are formed laterally alignedpairs of curved accelerating-slots 204 anddecelerating slots :295. Gear teeth202 extend around the greater portion:of. the periphery of 'body portion 2.0I "but there are no teeth -between'the'centers of .the bottoms :of

slots 294 and-205. The number of teeth 202 iconresponds'to the number of teeth onsegment-I94.

Accelerating pin I95 coacts with the'accelerating slots 294 and decelerating pin I98 with decelerati'ng slots 295. These two pins are preferably-provided with'friction reducing rollers, as indicated in Fig.8, to "engage these slots. Plates 293. are 'also providedyat a' location radially outward'from s1ots"2'94and' 205,with arcuate looking members 296. Thearcuate surfaces of these members, when the driven members [BI and [82 are in .theangular positions shown in Fig. 22, coact with circular grooves 291 formed along the opposite edges of the periphery of the wheel.- like body portion I97; .of driver I89 and which extend around this -member opposite gear segment I9 3. Thecooperation of thearcuatelocking members. 296 with these groovesZIl'l locks the driven membersIS-I and I82 in such a manneras 

